Free Republic

Two Republican candidates for U.S. Senate have, at least for now, withdrawn their support of their party’s presumptive nominee for president, Donald Trump. The two, Jack Graham and Ryan Frazier, said they did so because of Trump’s recent comments about an Indiana-born judge who Trump says is biased against him because of his “Mexican” heritage.

Sen. Ted Cruz’s wide appeal among conservatives was in high gear this weekend as he got rock star treatment at Texas and North Carolina events. Of six GOP presidential contenders who appeared at an evangelical gathering at the campus of a 7,000-seat mega-church in Texas, Cruz was clearly the favorite, frequently interrupted by cheers and standing ovations. And he was the winner of the North Carolina Tea Party Constitutional Caucus, in which he won 51 percent of the statewide vote, according to The Hill. Cruz’s popularity among conservatives is no accident. He has diligently courted evangelicals and Tea Party members...

In case you didn't see it live yesterday. Ted Cruz at the North Texas Presidential Forum (video) Jim Robinson: "Cruz is knocking it out of the park!!"

PLANO, Texas — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was asked by a pastor at a Texas presidential forum Sunday how individuals can pray for him — and the final point in his third-pronged response hit home with the church crowd. “How can we pray for you and your family?” Prestonwood Baptist Church pastor Jack Graham asked Cruz. “You know I’d say three things: peace and wisdom,” the Texas senator replied, “But then also especially you pray for our girls. Our girls Caroline and Catherine are here somewhere.” As Cruz’s family was spotted in the crowd and featured on the large screen,...

PLANO – Republican presidential primary contender Mike Huckabee received a major vote of confidence Sunday from the pastor of one of the nation's largest churches. Pastor Jack Graham told the congregation of Prestonwood Baptist Church before Mr. Huckabee's sermon that Christian values have a crucial role in the political process. Although Dr. Graham said his church doesn't endorse candidates, his praise for Mr. Huckabee was unambiguous. -snip- Dr. Graham said the sermon from Mr. Huckabee, who is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, was a message of "God's word from God's man."

A group of Southern Baptist missionaries working in Muslim countries has asked the U.S. leaders of their denomination to tone down their harsh criticism of Islam for safety reasons. The missionaries said denigrating Islam puts them at risk as they work to spread Christianity under dangerous conditions overseas. On Dec. 30, a suspected Islamic militant killed three workers at a Southern Baptist hospital in Yemen -- the latest in a series of attacks over the last year on American religious workers abroad. "We are not sure if you are aware of the ramifications that comments that malign Islam and Muhammad...